Pink Floyd ‘Animals’ Master Tape Sells for $3,500

A reel-to-reel master tape of Pink Floyd's 1977 album 'Animals' recently sold for more than $3,500 on eBay after drawing 38 bids.

A ferocious commentary on the sociopolitical situation in England during the late '70s, the Orwellian 'Animals' marked the beginning of a turbulent period for Pink Floyd, which would culminate in the departures of keyboardist Richard Wright in 1980 and then principal songwriter Roger Waters in 1983. On the final night of 'Animals'' tour, an agitated Waters became so irritated with a group of fans at Montreal's Olympic Stadium that he spat on them.

The ruminative and complex album -- which includes three songs that run more than 10 minutes each -- continued Pink Floyd's worldwide monster success following 1973's 'The Dark Side of the Moon.' 'Animals' reached No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 2 in the U.K.

The reel-to-reel master tape that was recently sold was still in a box labeled for shipment to Columbia Records' Australian division in 1977. Finding something to play this relic on will probably be the winning bidder's next task. Luckily, eBay has some of those too.